Evidence for an association between genetic and acoustic variation in the mimic poison frog Ranitomeya imitator

Acoustic signals are utilized in a variety of contexts such as mating and agonistic interactions. The matched filter hypothesis proposes that hearing sensitivity and acoustic signals should be correlated in order to increase the efficiency of communication. However, the genetic variants and perceptual differences underlying the diversification in acoustic signals are unknown in many taxa. Linking genetic variants to measures of acoustic signal divergence can allow us to understand the role of perception on ecological divergence in call traits between populations. The mimic poison frog ( Ranitomeya imitator ) exhibits acoustic signal phenotypes that vary geographically and coincide with geographic clines of color variation. The advertisement call of this species varies between color morphs with respect to dominant frequency, pulse rate, and note length. Here we aim to determine whether genetic variants in two genes related to hearing are associated with acoustic variation in male advertisement calls. We tested for an association between these call traits and SNPs located within two candidate genes identified by previous work, Synaptojanin 1 ( synj1 ) and Apoptosis Inducing Factor Mitochondria Associated 1 ( aifm1 ). We identified significant call trait variation between populations in dominant frequency, pulse rate, and note length. We also identified a strong association between dominant frequency and a single, exonic aifm1 SNP that consists of a synonymous mutation coding for proline. Our results suggest that R. imitator call trait variation may be driven by both perceptual and genetic mechanisms, highlighting the importance of investigating the role of perception in trait evolution.